Adderall Is Not The Way To Go

Margaret Talbot exposes the “underground world of neuroenhancing drugs” in her article entitled “Brain Gain”. Talbot discusses the new craze in taking cognitive enhancers such as Adderall and Ritalin to boost success rates in both academic settings and professional environments. Normally, medications such as Adderall and Ritalin are prescribed solely to patients who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (A.D.H.D), but today more and more people are finding ways to elicit these drugs. In her research to uncover the truth about cognitive enhancers, Talbot meets a young history major at Harvard named Alex, who admits to consuming vast amounts of Adderall in his academic career. The article holds truth that today’s society has become obsessed with a demand for overnight success and will resort to any means in order to obtain their desired results, no matter how detrimental it may be to one’s health. With that said, the illegal consumption of cognitive enhancers might be able to produce successful results in a limited amount of time, but only with the consequences of negative outcomes. Adderall is not a safe drug for anyone to consume without a doctors prescription. When used as an off label drug, it doesn’t have the approval of either the drug manufacturer or the Food Drug Administration. Therefore, it is not safe for the public to use an off label drug. It is the Food and Drug Administration’s job to approve drugs such as Adderall for the public’s safety and to inform every one of the drug’s ingredients. All of the students who consume Adderall, saying it’s fine and un-harmful to the human body are ignorant on the topic. These students are not informed on the side effects or harm that it could cause to a humans body. For example adderall causes an “inability of sleep for approximately eight to ten hours.” (Tablot) Sleep is essential for proper functioning throughout the day and is important to give the body rest after a long day. The reason students take Adderall is because it allows them to stay up for long periods of time to complete their work and other activities. During the time that a student is on Adderall sleep is not an option. A lack of sleep will negative effect on the body in the long run. Alex, who was spoken about in the article was a typical college student who took the nueroenhancer, Addereall. He experienced first hand what it was to be on the drug. His reasoning for consuming the pill was that he had to complete term papers and other school assignments and also wanted to go out partying on the weekends and not enough time on his hands. Alex stated that when on Adderall “I alternated between speaking too quickly and thoroughly on some subjects and feeling awkwardly quiet during other points of the discussion.” Not getting enough sleep and not eating are both health risks for any person. Alex went to the library that afternoon and spent way too much time researching his paper instead of actually writing it. This seems to be a problem because he’s so focused that excess research is done and too much information is gathered but no paper is written. Alex felt like “A zombie” throughout the day when on the drug.” He stated “the drug would ware me out.” Adderall is taken without precaution by some students in high school and college. If the drug would make a student’s performance in the classroom increase why wouldn’t kids take it in high school? There are many parents out there who want their kids to do the best possible and get accepted to the highest academic colleges in the country. Adderall isn’t taken as a big deal, many college students take it and nothing is done about it. The only result is better performance in the classroom but nobody sees how it can hurt the body in the long run. Parents will want to be the best parents they can be by helping their children succeed in school; some will probably force their kids to consume Adderall so that they have the best opportunity to perform well in the classroom. This isn’t right due to the cardiac problems that the drug can cause. This drug has several side effects. According to this article, drugs such as Adderall can cause “nervousness, headaches, sleeplessness, and decreased appetite“. (Tablot) The F.D.A has a warning label on Adderall that states that “adults using Adderall have reported serious cardiac problems.” (Tablot) If Adderall causes serious cardiac problems then why would students use it? Is it worth putting strain on the heart just to focus more during the day? In 2005, there was a report that stated that 4.1 percent of American undergraduates have taken prescription stimulants for off-label use. (Tablot) This study was lead by Sean Esteban McCabe, a professor at the University of Michigan’s substance Abuse Research center. If 4.1 percent of undergraduate students have consumed stimulants for off label use that means that all these students are more likely to have cardiac problems. Off-label drugs are increasing health risks in America more quickly daily. Regardless of these health effects students still take these drugs because they know of other students who have been taking it and are still healthy. These students who consume it have better concentration. Everybody isn’t able to take Adderall if they wanted to. Not only is Adderall unhealthy but it also can cause an unfair advantage to those who take it. For example, athletes in college are always busy with games, traveling, practices, meetings, lifting, and all of their school work. Adderall would be ideal for them. However, all college athletes could be selected for a random throughout the year. Therefore, Adderall wouldn’t be an option because their drug test would show up positive. A positive drug test would get them suspended for a full year and possibly get their scholarship taken away. It would not be ethical that non-athletes would be able to use Adderall without any consequences from the university and athletes would not. Some may look at Adderall as a way of getting the upper edge over other students or even the concept of cheating. Why wouldn’t it be considered cheating? It’s defiantly an unfair advantage over students who actually study the right way and work hard to do well in school. Would it be morally right if a student takes Adderall before the SAT’s and receives a higher score than someone who wasn’t having a good day but is smarter than the person on Adderall? This drug is beginning to be accepted in society. So cheaters are allowed in our society? If students want an upper edge they should study every night, keep their bodies healthy and get a good night’s rest to perform well. In conclusion, Adderall shouldn’t be consumed by anyone especially students who don’t need it for medical reasons. The side effects and down sides of Adderall outweighs the benefits of it.

Bibliography

Talbot , Margaret. “Brain Gain.” The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com, 2009. Web. 20 February

2010.